Jewelry



Dec. 26, 1944. M, GQURSE 2,365,870

JEWELRY Filed July 30, 1942 Patented Dec. 26, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JEWELRY Milton Gourse, Knoiiville, Tenn. Application July 30, 1942, Serial No. 452,939

(Cl.6315) Q 6 Claims.

This invention relates to an article of jewelry and more particularly it relates to a finger ring having a setting adapted to receive a variety of interchangeable ornaments, such as interchangeabl initial letters, a jewel or an emblem.

An object of this invention is to provide a finger ring having a novel setting for conveniently and easily mounting anovel detachable ornamentcarrying piece, which piece may be readily and quickly detached from the setting when so desired to change or clean the ring or the ornament.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a finger ring setting and an interchangeably mounted ornament which is attractive, simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and wherein the ornament cannot accidentally dislodgeitself from the setting but can be readily removed when desired.

One preferred embodiment of my invention is in the form of a signet ring having an enlarged and raised V-shaped setting for detachably mounting a variety of o'rnamentssuch as interchangeable initial letters, a jewel, an emblem or the like. The upper'portion of the V-shaped setting is bridged by a bar preferably in the form of three dots and a dash in such a manner that the bar and the V-shaped setting symbolize a novel Victory ring. However, it is to be expressly understood that the foregoing is for purposes of illustration only since it is contemplated to employ other kinds of setting having other designs or shapes and employing a variety of ornaments detachably carried by the setting.

The invention is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions some of'which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, but it is to be expressly understood that the drawing is for purposes of illustration only, and is not to be construed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims for that purpose.

Referring in detail to the accompanying drawing, wherein the same reference characters are employed to designate corresponding parts in the several figures.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a finger ring embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view on the lines 2-2 'of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view on lines 3-3 of Fig. 1 and Fig. 2;

Figs. 4 and 5 are front and rear views, respectively, of the ornament-carrying plate;

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view thereof taken on the line 6-8 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view; slightly reduced in size, of amodified embodiment of this invention showing a jewel or the like in place of letters.

Referring to the drawing, l is a finger-encircling band. The band is provided with an enlarged raised portion, generally indicated at 2,

having a V-shaped opening 3 therein for the variety of ornaments, such as interchangeable.

letters, a jewel, an emblem or the like. In the accompanying drawing the ornament is shown in the form of interchangeable initial letters.

In the'modified embodiment of Fig. 7 the ornament is in the form of a jewel as indicatedat 2a.

The enlarged raised portion 2 is preferably provided, as indicated at 8, with a V-shaped setting in bold relief forming the sides. of the opening 3. The setting 8 will be of the same outline as opening 3. The upper surfaces of the arms of the 'V-shaped portion 8- may be polished smoothly so as to contrast with the roughed or unpolished surface of the enlarged portion 2, thereby causing the V-shaped portion 8 to stand out prominently on the finger of the wearer. I

The widened ends of the arms of the -shaped setting 8 are preferably bridged by a bar 9', preferably having the design of three dots and a dash. The opposed inner sides of the arms of the v are provided with a pair ofgrooves or recesses l0 which are adapted to receive means for detach- The V-shaped setting 8 and the bar 9, as well as the three dots and a, dash are preferably cast in a single unit, but it is contemplated that the portion 2,'setting 8 and bar 9 may be cast separately from the band I and thereafter joined to it by welding, brazing or soldering.

As best shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the plate 4 is preferably provided with inwardly inclined sides 4a and 4b having th same angularity as the angle of the walls of the opening 3 so as to form a snug fit therein, and the plate 4 carries the interchangeable initials II. The lower rear side of the plate is provided with a pair of laterally projecting rigid studs or lugs [2. In the present embodiment the upper rear side of the plate 4 carries an elongated cylindrical housing l3 for the reception of a coiled compression spring I4. A air of movable members such as slidable bolts l5 and I6 are disposed in the ends of the housing I3 and are engaged by the ends of the spring I4, the bolts being normally held in a position with their ends projecting outwardly beyond the edges of the plate 4 and into grooves or recesses I0. Handles I1 project through suitable slots I9 in the housing I3, and provide means for retracting the bolts against the tension of the spring l4 when it is desired to insert the plate 4 into or remove it from the setting 8.

As best shown in Fig. 6, the upper and lower edges ofthe plate 4 are reversely turned to form opposed grooves or trackways 20 in the front face of the plate for the reception of an ornament,

such as the interchangeable letters II which are.

slid laterally therein. The letters or other ornament are thus held on the plate 4 by these trackways and form a unit with the plate 4. When the plate 4 is mounted in the setting 8 the trackways 20 .are disposed substantially transverse to the side walls of the V-shaped setting 8 so that any lateral movement of the letters H on the trackways is prevented by the walls of the V shaped setting and the letters are securely held against accidental displacement on the plate 4.

Referring to the modified embodiment of Fig. -7 it will be noted that the jewel 2a may be provided with a pair of oppositely disposed flanges indicated in dotted lines at 20a which are adapted to engage in the trackways 20 in the plate 4 and securely retain the jewel on the plate. The side walls of the opening 3 prevent lateral movement of the jewel 2a and prevent accidental displacement of the jewel from the ring.

By reference to Fig. 3 it will appear that the plate 4 together with the letters Il may be readily placed in the setting by retracting the handles I'I thus moving the bolts I5 and I6 inwardly towards each other against the tension of the spring I4, then engaging the studs or lugs I2 in the upper ends of the grooves ID from the underside of the setting 2 as shown in dotted lines, then sliding the lugs I2 down the grooves until the inclined sides 4a and 4b of the plate 4 engage the V-shaped opening 3 in the setting, then swinging the plate 4 upwardly until the bolts I5 and I6 are in alignment with the grooves I0, and then releasing the handles I'I so that the spring I4 moves the ends of the bolts into the grooves II] at a point adjacent the uppermost extremities of the grooves so that the plate is securely held against any movement or accidental displacement in the setting. The bolts I5 and I6 may be moved inwardly and outwardly by hand in which case the spring I4 is dispensed with and a bayonet joint or other suitable bolt-retaining means (not shown) substituted therefor.

When it is desired to remove the plate 4 to interchange the letters or for cleaning the ring,

the bolts I5 and I6 are retracted until they are clear of the grooves Ill and the plate 4 is moved into the dotted lin position in Fig. 3 and slid until the studs I2 clear the grooves Ill.

What is claimed is:

1. In an article of jewelry the combination of a setting having an opening provided with opposed grooves, an ornamental mounting plat adapted to engage in said opening, and spring actuated means on the plate and projecting laterally therefrom for slidable and lateral engagement in said grooves to detachably secure said plate in the opening in said setting.

2. In an article of jewelry the combination of a setting having an opening provided with opposed grooves, an ornamental mounting plate adapted to engage in said opening, and a pair of spring pressed bolts and a pair of studs on the plate and projecting laterally therefrom for engagement laterally in said grooves to detachably secure said plate in the opening in said setting.

3. In an article of jewelry the combination of a Setting having an opening therein provided with grooves, a plate adapted to engage in said opening, a pair of spring pressed bolts and a pair of studs on the plate and projecting laterally therefrom into said grooves to detachably secure said plate in the setting, a pair of trackways on the plate, and an ornament removably secured in said trackways, said trackways being disposed at an angle transverse to said grooves to prevent lateral displacement of the ornament.

4. A finger ring comprising a finger-encircling band, a V-shaped setting having a V-shaped opening therein, a pair of grooves in the inner sides of the opening, a V-shaped plate adapted to engage in said opening, a pair of fixed studs at the shortest lateral dimensions of said plate, and spring actuated means on the plate for engagement in said grooves to detachably secure the plate in the setting.

5. A finger ring comprising a finger-encircling band, a setting on the band having an opening provided with opposed recesses, a plate adapted to engage in said opening, and laterally movable bolts on said plate for slidable and lateral engagement in said recesses to detachably secure said plate in the opening in the setting.

6. A finger ring comprising a finger-encircling band, a setting on the band having an opening provided with a pair of recesses, an ornament mounting plate adapted to engage in said opening, and a pair of slidable and laterally movable bolts and a pair of rigid studs on said plate for engagement in said recesses to detachably secure ,said plate in the openings in the setting.

MILTON GOURSE. 

